Oxygen regulators for respiratory equipment units



May 3, N66 R. G. DELEST 3,249,107

OXYGEN REGULATORS FOR RESPIRATORY EQUIPMENT UNITS Filed March 31, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VE NT IE RENE @AsTo/v DELEST A TTOENE y May 3, i966 R. G. DELEST 3,249,107

OXYGEN REGULATORS FOR RESPIRATORY EQUIPMENT UNITS Filed March 51, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR RENE GASTON DELEST United States Patent y Filed Mar. 31, 1964', Ser. No. 356,292 Claims priority, application France, Apr. 4, 1963, 930,430, Patent 1,361,969 2 Claims. (Cl. 128142) The present invention relates to oxygen regulators of a known type referred-to as controlled-delivery by regulators for respiratory equipment units.

For reasons of overall size, convenience, etc., it often represents an advantage to ensure that the regulator of the type considered is located at a certain distance away from the breathing mask, for example a distance of 1 metre, but a disadvantage is then encountered in the use of a connecting pipe (flexible ringed tube) which has a large diameter, is cumbersome and heavy for the purpose of conecting the regulator to the breathing mask.

In fact, if it is sought to joint the regulator to the breathing mask by means of a pipe having a small diameter (for example a diameter of the same order as that of the pipe which usually connects the regulator to the oxygen supply), it becomes practically impossible to breathe and, as will be brought out in detail hereinafter,

regulator and the breathing mask, that is to say within the chamber of the breathing mask.

The present invention provides the possibility of overcoming the above-noted disadvantage in a particularly simple manner and the improvements according to the invention which make it possible to supply the breathing mask through a pipe having a small cross-sectional area of passage are characterized in that, in order to limit the function of said pipe solely or mainly to that of effecting the supply to the breathing mask, the downstream side of the controlled delivery valve practically communicates only with said supply pipe, said valve being actuated by follow-up control means whichare responsive to the pressure which prevails in the breathing mask (for example at the outlet of the supply pipe within said breathing mask) or to a closely related pressure (for example, within the aforesaid pipe but at a suitable point in said pipe), the arrangement of said follow-up control means being such that the valve opens and closes in dependence on the demands of the respiratory process within the breathing mask.

In one mode of practical application of the improvements referred-to above, said improvements are characterized by the following features and combinations thereof:

The follow-up control means are of the compressed-air type and comprise, disposed within the regulator and connected to the breathing mask by means of an auxiliary conduit referred-to as a pilot conduit which is functionally independent of the supply pipe, a cavity or chamber which is not supplied (subject to permissible leakage) by the valve, said chamber being closed by means of a membrane which controls said valve and being preferably of small capacity;

' That face of the membrane which is opposite to that which actuates the controlled-delivery valve can be subjected to a thrust which complies with a given law (compensating spring, compressed-air overpressure, etc.);

In the case of a regulator of the type with dilution of air, the controlled-delivery valve is adapted to supply a nozzle which opens into a mixing chamber of the regulator on the upstream side of a venturi, the downstream 3,249,107 Patented May 3, 1966 end of which is connected to the supply pipe and which, by virtue of an injection combining-tube effect, produces a partial vacuum which results in the suction of air and subsequent mixing;

The supply pipe, the pilot conduit and also the compensating conduit (in the case of an overpressure regulator which calls for such a conduit) which extend from the regulator to thebreathing mask are grouped together in the form of a flexible connection with multiple conduits;

The breathing mask comprises the conduits and devices which are necessary for the purpose of connecting said mask in a correct manner to the pipes which extend from the regulator and possibly also the follow-up control means.

Further particular features and characteristics of the invention will be brought out by the description which follows below in reference to two modes of application of the improvements in accordance with the invention, said modes of application being given without any limitation being implied and illustrated diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a simplified sectional view of an oxygen regulator for respiratory circuits of known type referred-to as controlled-delivery circuits which supply high-purity oxygen;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the regulator of FIG. 1 as improved in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an oxygen regulator of the air-dilution type with automatic overpressure calling for a compensating circuit, also of improved design in ac cordance with the invention;

FIG.'4 is a view in transverse cross-section of the multiple conduit connection which is designed for use with the regulator of FIG. 3.

In FIG. 1, the reference numeral 1 designates the body of a conventional regulator (of the controlled-delivery type), the cavity 2 of said regulator being closed by a flexible membrane 3 which is subjected to the action of a spring 4 and which actuates, in synchronism with the rhythm of the users respiration, the controlled-delivery valve 5 through whose intermediary said cavity 2, which communicates with the breathing mask M through the supply pipe 6, accordingly receives in rhythmic sequence oxygen which is admitted at 7. v

If, for reasons of overall size, convenience and the like, it is desired to give a small diameter to the supply pipe 6 (diameter of approximately the same order as the diameter of the oxygen supply pipe to the regulator), the following technical difficulties are met with:

The instantaneous flow rates during the respiratory cycle are high, with the result that a considerable pressure drop is created between the outlet r of the regulator and the inlet m of the breathing mask M. In order to overcome this pressure drop, a sufiicient pressure must be produced at r. Since this pressure is exerted on the membrane 3 so as to actuate the valve, said membrane must be subjected to the action of an opposing spring 4 (or any equivalent means). The flow of oxygen will stop as and when the pressure applies on the membrane 3 a thrust which is greater than that of the spring 4, Whereas in the contrary case oxygen Will be delivered at a more or less high rate of flow.

In point of fact, breathing is easy only on condition that the pressure variations at m are small at every instant of the respiratory cycle. However, the pressure which is necessary at r for a high flow rate will be much too high for a low rate of flow (all the more so in the case of zero flow which corresponds to expiration) and will accordingly create at m a high pressure which the user is obliged to overcome in order to either limit or stop the supply of oxygen, which results in very difficult or even impossible respiration.

Should it be found desirable to regulate the pressure at r and the opposing pressure exerted by the spring 4 (or equivalent means) as a function of the small variations in pressure during the resipratory cycle, technical difliculties of such magnitude are encountered that it is impossible to arrive at a practical solution.

The present invention provides a simple and practical solution to the problem which has been outlined above. This solution is represented by Way of example in FIG. 2 in which the same reference numerals have been employed for the purpose of designating the elements which have already been described and illustrated in FIG. 1.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, the cavity 2 is independent of the supply pipe 6a to the mask M. The controlleddelivery valve a which is operated by the membrane 3 which closes off the cavity 2 of the regulator supplies the oxygen which is admitted at 7 and conveyed directly to the supply pipe 6a through a duct 8 which extends from the downstream side of the valve, said valve being isolated by any suitable sealing means such as a leak-tight guide member 9 from the cavity 2 which communicates with the zone m of the breathing mask M by means of the conduit 10.

When making use of the regulator which is thus improved, the pressure within the cavity 2 is directly infiuenced by the pressures of the breathing rhythm which prevail at m, and the flow rates which are necessary for the controlled operation of the members 3 and 5a through the intermediary of the pilot conduit 10 remain small by reason of the fact that the cavity 2 has a small volume, with the result that the conduit 10 can have a very small diameter, the response times of the follow-up control system being instantaneous.

The pressures which are necessary to overcome the pressure losses within the respiration circuit are produced without difiiculty and do not cause any hindrance to breathing. Leak-tightness between the valve and the cavity does not need to be of a high order. It is, in fact necessary to ensure that such leak-tightness is sufiicient to permit the pilot conduit to have a small diameter. The operation of the regulator of improved design as hereinabove described is as follows:

At the time of inhaling, the user creates a slightly reduced pressure. This reduced pressure is immediately transmitted by the pilot conduit 10 to the cavity 2, and the controlled-delivery valve 5a which is actuated by the membrane 3 delivers, as a function of said reduced pressure, the requisite quantity of oxygen which is accordingly supplied to the breathing mask at the appropriate pressure.

In fact, if the quantity of oxygen delivered is insufiicient compared with the demand, this results in a pressure at m which is too low, and the reduced pressure which is created by the respiration will further increase in the zone m, thereby producing a wider opening of the controlleddelivery valve 5a, thereby resulting in a higher flow rate and a higher pressure within the respiratory circuit, said pressure increasing until equilibrium is established Within the zone m.

If the quantty of oxygen delivered by the valve 5a is excessive relative to the demand, the reduced pressure in zone m will decrease (and will subsequently become a slight overpressure), thereby producing a narrower opening of the valve or the closure of this latter as and when a small overpressure is developed during the expiration period (this overpressure being necessary for the operation of the standard exhaust valve of the breathing mask).

A breathing mask (or other circuit elements) is adapted to correspond to the regulator as improved in the manner which has been indicated above and to operate conjointly with said regulator.

The foregoing description relates to a single controlleddelivery regulator which delivers oxygen of 100% purity without respiratory overpressure. By making appropriate corrections, the improvements and results thereby made possible are also applicable to a multiple regulator (comprising a number of cavities and controlled-delivery valves) with or without manual or automatic overpressure and with or without dilution of air.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the application of the invention to a single regulator with dilution and automatic overpressure with compensating circuit.

In this figure, the reference numeral 11 designates the regulator body, the cavity 12 of which is closed by the membrane 13 which is subjected to the action of the light spring 14.

Above the membrane 13 is located the overpressure chamber 15 which communicates with the atmosphere, on the one hand, through an overpressure safety valve 17 and, on the other hand, through a valve 18 controlled by an overpressure aneroid capsule 19.

From the oxygen supply conduit 20 which opens into the chamber 21 of the controlled-delivery valve 22 which is actuated by the membrane 13, there extends a by-pass duct 23 in which is interposed a calibrated nozzle 24; said nozzle discharges into the chamber 15 in which any existing overpressure is communicated to the balanced valve of the breathing mask through a compensating conduit 25.

The breathing mask communicates, as in the example of FIG. 2, with the cavity 12 through the pilot conduit 26.

The chamber 27 or so-called dilution chamber communicates with the breathing mask through the supply pipe 28.

Atmospheric air is admitted within the'chamber 27 by means of a valve 29,the travel of which is limited as a function of atmospheric pressure by an aneroid capsule 30 which actuates a pivotal lever 31 which, through the intermediary of spring 32, tends to close the valve 29, this closing action being correspondingly more powerful as the ambient pressure is lower. In order to produce the dilution over-pressure, by manual operation (closure of the valve 29), provision is made for an operating lever 33 which produces action on a corresponding stud 34 of the lever 31.

In this application of the invention, the oxygen which is delivered according to the requirements of the respiratory process by the valve 22 (which is represented in the drawings as isolated from the cavity 12 by a bellows seal 35) arrives in the duct 36'of an ejector-nozzle 37 which is disposed in central alignment with a venturi or throat 38, the outlet of which is extended by the pipe 28. The assembly 37-38 performs the function of an injection combining-tube and utilizes the pressure of oxygen which is supplied to said assembly through the valve 22 for the purpose of ensuring the reduced pressure which is necessary for the air supply and for the suitable dilution of the oxygen in the air.

Instead of being separated from each other, the pipe 28, the compensating conduit 25 and the pilotconduit 26 can be grouped together in the manner which is shown in FIG. 4 so as to form a flexible multiple-conduit connection 39 which can be fabricated of molded rubber, plastic material and the like, the end connections being effected by known means.

It will be apparent that the examples of execution and application of the improvements as hereinabove described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings have been given solely by way of indication and not in any limiting sense and that any and all detail modifications can be made in said improvements without thereby departing either from the scope or the spirit of the invention.

Accordingly, the follow-up control means, instead of being pneumatic, could be hydraulic, mechanical, electrical and so forth. In the case of an electrical system, the controlled-delivery valve could be designed in the form of an electrovalve which is connected by suitable electrical supply leads to a current supply source and to a pneumatic contactor housed within the breathing mask.

What I claim is:

1. In a respiratory apparatus of the type comprising: an oxygen regulator which has a controlled-delivery valve for regulating the oxygen flow and which is connectable to an oxygen source; a cavity formed within the regulator and constituted by a compartment and an overpressure.

chamber separated from each other by a flexible membrane operatively connected with said valve so as to effect the closure and the opening of said valve; pressure relief means comprising an overpressure safety valve for connecting said overpressure chamber with the atmosphere, and an auxiliary valve controlled by an aneroid capsule for connecting the overpressure chamber with the atmosphere; a breathing mask; a supply pipe for connecting said mask to the outlet of said valve; and an auxiliary conduit positively connected to said mask and to the said compartment, on one side of the membrane;

the provision of a compensating conduit positively con- 1 nected to the mask and to the overpressure chamber on the other side of the membrane, and a conduit 5 duit are grouped together in the form of a single flexible connection of the multiple conduit type.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 2,269,500 1/1942 Wildhack.

2,449,548 9/1948 Burns 128-144 2,929,377 3/1960 Cummins 12s 144 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

W. E. KAMM, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A RESPIRATORY APPARATUS OF THE TYPE COMPRISING: AN OXYGEN REGULATOR WHICH HAS A CONTROLLED-DELIVERY VALVE FOR REGULATING THE OXYGEN FLOW AND WHICH IS CONNECTABLE TO AND OXYGEN SOURCE; A CAVITY FORMED WITHIN THE REGULATOR AND CONSTITUTED BY A COMPARTMENT AND AN OVERPRESSURE CHAMBER SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER BY A FLEXIBLE MEMBRANE OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH SAID VALVE SO AS TO EFFECT THE CLOSURE AND THE OPENING OF SAID VALVE; PRESSURE RELIEF MEANS COMPRISING AN OVERPRESSURE SAFETY VALVE FOR CONNECTING SAID OVERPRESSURE CHAMBER WITH THE ATMOSPHERE, AND AN AUXILIARY VALVE CONTROLLED BY AN ANEROID CAPSULE FOR CONNECTING THE OVERPRESSURE CHAMBER WITH THE ATMOSPHERE; A BREATHING MASK; A SUPPLY PIPE FOR CONNECTING SAID MASK TO THE OUTLET OF SAID VALVE; AND AN AUXILIARY CONDUIT POSITIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID MASK AND TO THE SAID COMPARTMENT, ON ONE SIDE OF THE MEMBRANE; THE PROVISION OF A COMPENSATING CONDUIT POSITIVELY CONNECTED TO THE MASK AND TO THE OVERPRESSURE CHAMBER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MEMBRANE, AND A CONDUIT CONNECTED BETWEEN THE UPSTREAM SIDE OF THE VALVE AND THE COMPENSATING CONDUIT. 